Winter is pretty hard on your skin! Dry, windy weather and relentless central heating systems suck moisture right out of the epidermis, leaving it tight, itchy and all around uncomfortable. Under these conditions, fine lines look deeper, complexions appear rough and flaky, and no one looks or feels their best. So to help you feel good this winter, we at The Wax Bar have compiled a few tips for banishing your dry skin woes during the most punishing season of the year.

Moisturize, and Then Moisturize Some More: Whether you prefer lotion, cocoa butter cream or body oil, apply liberally and often all over your body. Slather it on as soon as you get out of the shower in the morning, and keep a small bottle with you during the day to re-apply to your hands after washing, or any other part of the body that dries out quickly. For both facial and body moisturizers, you may want to switch to a thicker formula during the winter months.

Guzzle Water Like a Fish: This ubiquitous bit of advice is right on the money at any time of year. Replenishing your body with H2O gives you more energy, benefits your overall health, and will also help keep your skin from becoming dehydrated. Aim for at least eight glasses (at about 8 oz each) a day, and remember to grab a bottle to take along anytime you leave the house. Hot herbal tea is a great alternative when the weather turns cold.

Don’t Skip the Sunblock: Just because the sun isn’t shining as bright or as often as it did during the summer doesn’t mean it won’t still burn (and prematurely age) your skin. Applying sunblock, preferably SPF 25 or higher, should be a part of your daily skin care routine all year long. Remember to apply to all parts of your body that will be exposed during the day: face, arms, neck, etc.

Stop Licking Your Lips: We’ve all been guilty of this assault on our kissers: When our lips feel dry, we lick them. Of course, this only leaves them more chapped. Keep a tube or jar of lip balm with you at all times, and apply every time you get the temptation to lick those dry lips. In a pinch, you can also apply the balm to chapped hands and irritated, over-blown noses.

Don’t Forget to Exfoliate: Keep a gentle body scrub and a less abrasive facial exfoliant in the shower and remember to use them both once or twice a week. This gets rid built-up dead skin cells and exposes a fresh layer of skin ready to suck up all the moisturizer you’re going to apply when you step out of the tub.

Still feel like you need a little something extra? Though we’re called The Wax Bar, we also do facials. Lots of ‘em! So treat yourself to one of our many facials and peels for your face and body and banish that weathered skin for good!